Louis XVI giving his instructions to Lapérouse on 29 June 1785

作品描述

This historical painting by Nicolas-André Monsiau depicts Louis XVI bestowing his final instructions to Jean-François de La Pérouse, a French naval officer, on June 29, 1785. The scene captures the moment of departure for La Pérouse's ambitious expedition, which aimed to explore the Pacific Ocean and map unknown territories. The composition highlights the gravity of the occasion, with the monarch and his aide standing before a map and globe, symbolizing the era's spirit of exploration and imperial ambition.